Machine for breaking flax



(No Model.)

G. MILLIKENV Machine for Breaking FIaX, Hemp, &o.

No. 234,715.. Patented Nov. 23,1880.

I. 1 v I m M R t O u n N a a m M @a TLI Fir x FlrEl r L ll "ER, WASHINGTON 0 c Uwrrnn S rains Parana Price,

GEORGE MILLIKEN, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

MACHINE FOR BREAKING FLAX, HEMP, 80C.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 234,715, dated November 23, 1880.

Application filed August 27, 1880. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE MILLIKEN, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Machines for Breaking Flax, Hemp, 850., which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification and accompanying drawings, in which- Figure} is a side elevation of the machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a front view thereof. Fig. 3 is a top or plan view thereof.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

This invention consists in the combination of a rotating fluted cylinder,.made open to allow the sheave to fall through, with a fluted roller mesliin g therewith and vibrating backward and forward, substantially as set forth.

It also consists in. so gearing the cylinder that it may be stopped at any point without stopping other motions of the machine.

It also consists of means for adjusting the extent of reciprocation of the roller which is in contact with the rotating cylinder.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the frame which supports the working parts of the machine.

B represents the driving shaft, which is mounted on the lower part of the frame A and carries a pulley, a, which by means of a band, I), communicates motion to another shaft, 0, likewise mounted on the lower part of the frame, and having a pulley, 0, around which the band passes.

D represents the main cylinder, whose bear ings are on the frame A. This cylinder has a fluted or grooved periphery, d, with perforations or openings d, and has secured to or formed with one of its heads a worm-wheel, E, with which meshes a worm, F, whose shaft F, mounted vertically on the frame A, carries a gear-wheel, c, the engaging gear-wheel f whereof is fixed to the shaft 0, whereby when the shaft is rotated continuously rotary motion is imparted to the cylinder 1).

To the ends of the shaft B are keyed or otherwise secured cranks G, to which are attached arms H H, said cranks being slotted, so that the connecting bolts or pins of the cranks may be set nearer to or farther from the ends of the cranks, and thus adjust the throw of parts operated by the cranks. The arms H are pivoted to the lower ends ofswinging arms J, the axes whereof are on the frame A.

The upper ends of the arms J carry a fluted or grooved roller, K, whose periphery is in engaging contact with the fluted or grooved periphery of the cylinder D, whereby when the shaft B is rotated motion is imparted to the arms H and reciprocating motions to the rocking arms J, the effect whereof is to carry the roller K forward and backward over the cylinder D, said roller K rotating on its axis on the rocking arms J by contact with said cylinder D.

L represents the feed-apron, which is located at the front of the machine, and consists of an endless band which passes around rollers g g, the roller g carrying a pinion which gears with the pinion of a roller, h, above the roller g, and with a pinion, h, which is below it. The several rollers and the pinion h are properly supported on the frame A or by other means, and power is communicated to the pinion h by means of a spur-wheel, k, which is fixed to the shaft of said pinion h, and gears with the fluted or grooved periphery d of the cylinder D.

It will be seen that when the cylinder D rotates, the wheel it receives motion, and this is communicated to the pinion h, and thus to the rollers g h, whereby the apron L is moved, the supporting-roller 9 being rotated thereby, and the flax or other material placed on the apron is carried toward the rollers g h, the speed of the apron being such that the rollers draw the material from the apron and force and direct it from between the rollers to the periphery of the cylinder D, which, rotating, carries said material under the rotating roller K, and thus between the flutes or grooves of the roller K and cylinder D, which, meshing with each other, crush or scutch the material. Furthermore, as the roller K is carried forward and backward over the material resting on the cylinder continuously rotating, the material is subjected to the rubbing or working action of the roller, and thus thoroughly broken and disintegrated. The sheave falls into the flutes or grooves of the cylinder D, and then drops through the perforations or openings 61 of the cylinder to the floor on which the machine rests. The material now reaches the discharge-apron M, which is located opposite to the apron L, and consists of an endless baud passing around supporting-rollers m, properly mounted, the roller adjacent to the cylinder carrying a pulley, around which passes a belt, a, leading from a pulley on the axis of the roller 9, said apron M moving at a greater rate of speed than the apron L, so as to properly carry oft the material as reduced, broken, or disintegrated.

The gear-wheelfof the shaft is a clutchwheel, and has connected to it a shifting-lever, G; consequently when the wheel fis moved from the wheel 0 the cylinder D is immediately stopped or rendered inoperative, thus also depriving the feed and discharge aprons of motion, but without stopping the shafts B (J and reciprocating arms J of the roller K, it being noticed that the shifting-lever O is conveniently mounted on the frame at or about the front end thereof, so as to be easily reached,

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A rotating open'iluted cylinder, 1), in combination with a fluted roller meshing therewith, and vibrating backward and forward, substantially as set forth.

2. In combination with open cylinder D, the roller K, rotating on its axis on reciprocating bearings or arms, whereby the roller as it rotates is carried forward and backward on the cylinder D, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The gearing E F, imparting continuous rotary motion to the cylinder 1), in combination with the driving-shaft G, with clutch mechanism, substantially as described, whereby the cylinder may be stopped at any point without stopping other motions oi. the machine, in the manner stated.

at. The swinging arms J, earryingthe roller K, in combination with the cranks Gr, adjustably connected to the arms H, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. The apron L and cylinder 1), in combination with gearing operated by the wheel k, meshing with the fluted or grooved periphery of said cylinder, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

GEORGE MILLIKEN.

\Vitnesses:

JOHN A. \Vmnnnsunn1, F. Ooornn. 

